Lt Col (Ret) Christopher R. Ott

Senior Aerospace Science Instructor

After a distinguished 20-year career, Lt Col Ott retired from active duty on June 1st, 2020. Commissioned in 2000 as a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, Lt Col Ott earned his pilot wings in 2002 and was assigned to fly the C-17A at Joint Base Charleston, SC. During his time there, he served in numerous squadron leadership positions and was a qualified C-17 Special Operations Evaluator Pilot. In 2008, he attended the prestigious Air Force Weapons School. Following graduation, he was assigned to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA, where he served as the Director of Wing Weapons and Tactics.

Major Ott deployed five times in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM and Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, serving as the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron’s Air Drop Director and Detachment Operations Officer. More recently, he was a Branch Chief at the NATO Air Operations Center in Uedem, Germany and then served as a squadron Operations Officer at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. Following his time in Europe, Lt Col Ott was selected to command the 621st Contingency Response Support Squadron, Joint Base McGuire-DixLakehurst, New Jersey. Prior to his retirement, Lt Col Ott was the Director of Staff of the 621st Contingency Response Wing. Lt Col Ott is a command pilot with more than 3,000 flight hours in the T-34C, T-1A, and C-17A, including 750 combat hours.

In high school, Lt Col Ott participated for three years in AFJROTC. Recognizing its positive impact on his own life, he is an enthusiastic proponent of the program. Lt Col Ott holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Factors Engineering from the United States Air Force Academy and a Master of Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Lt Col Ott and his wife met when she was teaching at a BCSD high school. He and his family are thrilled to call the Lowcountry home once again.